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People, Places and Things: Jim Vinopal

Jim Vinopal takes the relaxation out of retirement

It wasn’t retirement in the classic sense of the word; more of a redirection of his time and efforts. When James Vinopal of Downers Grove left his 39-year career with Illinois Bell 26 years ago, he never even considered the possibility of kicking back to relax.  

“I’ve never done that,” said the energetic 83-year old. “I’ve always been pretty active hunting, fishing, [following] politics. I’ve always had something to do.”

Much of how Vinopal spends his time revolves around his passion for shooting and hunting, and his involvement with the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) for which he served as president during the mid 1960s.

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For the past 25 years, Vinopal has been a lobbyist for ISRA. When the legislature is in session, it takes up a “good chunk of my time,” he said. Vinopal typically heads to Springfield on Mondays and then returns on Thursday evenings.

“As long as there are gun issues alive, I have to go," he said. "A bill may lay there for months and months, and then someone may see an opportunity to push it through, so we always have to have someone down there,” Vinopal said. He is driven by his commitment to the preservation of the rights guaranteed under the 2nd Amendment.

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“This is something that I see as helping to provide a reasonable future for my kids and their kids and so on," he said. "We are trying to ensure that the proper kinds of laws and regulations are passed."

Aside from his work as a lobbyist, Vinopal has served on a number of ISRA committees, including the Shows Committee and the High Power Rifle Committee. As a past ISRA president, he also continues to serve on the Advisory Committee to the board, which keeps him busy."

"Even if it’s just a matter of being on the phone, there’s something going on every day,” he said.

Vinopal’s volunteer efforts extend beyond the confines of the ISRA. Every Friday for the past twelve years, Vinopal has worked as a volunteer for the recreational therapy program at Hines VA Hospital. There he coaches veterans with disabilities who are part of the air rifle team. The vets he works with range in age from 20 to 70, and many are paraplegic or quadriplegic.  Vinopal believes that the recreational program provides a great service to the veterans.

 “It offers physical rehabilitation," he said. "It helps them recover from their injuries or helps them to stabilize so that they can continue to function." The competitive shooting also helps the vets socially and emotionally.

“It helps with their morale," he said. "They’re with other people and have the chance to interact socially apart from the hospital personnel. Some of them are quite despondent and they need something [positive] to occupy their minds. Vinopal added he’s gained as much from the program as the veterans who he is helping.

 “I like giving something back," he said. "It’s hard to describe but there’s great satisfaction being able to help someone out and help them help themselves,” he said.

Vinopal is also a member of the Rod and Gun Club of the Downers Grove Moose Lodge.  In that capacity, he helps to coordinate a hunter safety class. As member of the club, Vinopal also assists with the annual fishing derby offered by the Downers Grove Park District.   

Vinopal, who was in the Navy during WWII and the Army during the Korean War, is an officer with the VFW and a member of the American Legion. He was also the founding president of Downers Grove Citizens for Responsible Firearms Ownership.

Not to be left in her husband’s gun-toting dust, Vinopal’s wife Helen is also impressively busy and energetic. The 82-year old has been a school bus driver for more than 40 years. This school year she will be transporting children with disabilities.

“She also belongs to a card club with her lady friends and has lunch with the girls,” said Vinopal, adding that she often accompanies him at ISRA-related programs and events.

In the little spare time they have, the Vinopals enjoy time with their family. They have two children, eighteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Vinopal remarked on their busy lifestyle.

“You need time to do things and socialize with other people. You can’t just lie around in your house all day,” he said.

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